Permanently creased cap



April 16, 1963 s. M. SMITH PERMANENTLY CREASED CAP Filed Aug. 16, 1960 Samuel M. .Sm/M

INVENTOR. @650 BY ifi zsm 3,085,252 PERMANENTLY CREASED CAP Samuel M. Smith, 316 S. Alamo St, San Antonio, Tex. Filed Aug. 16, 1960, er. No. 49,941 2 Claims. (Cl. 2--195) The present invention generally relates to an improved and novel cap construction and more particularly to such a construction in which the cap is provided with a crease formed therein by stitching orientated in such a manner that the cap will be reinforced and retained in a desired shape.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved and novel cap construction and more particularly to an improved construction in that type of cap normally worn by baseball players and the like and includes a structural arrangement by which the forward portion of the cap is disposed in extended generally vertical position thereby enabling an emblem on the cap to be maintained in a position for ready observation and further providing a cap which is neater in appearance while at the same time being more comfortable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved and novel cap construction of the character described including a crease or seam formed on the front of the crown portion of the cap for maintaining the crown portion in upstanding relation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a permanently creased cap in accordance with the preceding objects which is simple in construction, easy to make, neat in appearance, effective for its particular purposes and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the permanently creased cap of the present invention illustrating the results obtained by the crease;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the construction of FIGURE 1 with portions of the cap broken away illustrating the structure of the improved and novel structural features of the invention; and

FEGURE 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIGURE 2 illustrating further structural details of the cap.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the cap of the present invention which includes a main body portion generally designated by the numeral 12 that normally is constructed from a plurality of triangular components 14 secured together by radial stitch lines 16 extending from a center connecting button 18. Each of the triangular sections 14 is usually provided with a ventilating grommet 20 or the like and at the forward end of the main body 12 there is provided a forwardly and downwardly projecting brim or bill 22 of arcua-te configuration. The body portion 12 is provided with a sweat band 24 at the lower edge thereof on the inner surface thereof and the entire device may be assembled in the usual manner. For example, the brim 22 may have a reinforcing cardboard member 26 or the like incorporated therein secured to an overlying cloth or fabric member 28 by a plurality of arcuate rows of stitching 36. Also, the sweat band 24, the brim 22 and the lower edge of the main body 12 are secured together by peripheral rows of stitching 32.

The forward portion of the main body portion 12 3,085,252- Patented Apr. 16, 1963 which may be termed the front of the crown of the cap includes a top portion 34 horizontally disposed and a front portion 36 generally vertically disposed. Attached to the front portion 36 is a letter 38 or some other symbol designating the team affiliation of the person wearing the cap. The letter or indicia 38 is contrasting to the color of the main body portion 12 thus enabling the letter 38 to be easily observed. Generally, baseball caps of this nature are constructed of a felt material which generally conforms to the curvature of the head and will generally slope rearwardly so that it is rather difiicult at times to observe the letter 38 and the cap becomes rather unattractive since it is ruffled and rumpled and is not neat.

In order to maintain the front portion 36 generally in vertical orientation, the line of juncture between the top portion 34 and the front portion 36 is formed with an external crease 4t! maintained by a line of stitching 42. The crease 40 extends upwardly and forwardly from a side seam 16 and terminates at an apex at the front center seam 16- and then downwardly and rearwardly to the adjacent side seam 16 thus forming upwardly inclined portions of the seam 4d thereby forming a reinforcement and stiffening for the front portion 36 which will normally maintain the front portion 36 in extended vertical position thus forming a neat cap in appearance and one in which the letter 38 is readily observable since it is disposed substantially in vertical position. The orientation of the front portion at in vertical position also will provide a greater void space within the interior of the main body 12 and the surface of the head thus enabling a greater circulation of air through the gentilating grommet Zt) thereby maintaining the head of the person wearing the cap in a cooler condition.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cap construction comprising a crown portion having a generally horizontal lower edge, a forwardly projecting brim attached to a portion of said edge, the portion of the crown adjacent the brim having a generally vertically disposed front portion and a generally horizontally disposed top portion of continuous construction from the apex of the crown to the edge thereof, ventilating aperture means in said crown and including aperture means in said top portion, a row of stitching extending generally parallel to the brim portion at the juncture between the top portion and front portion, said line of stitching forming an outwardly extended folded rib in the continuous material thereby forming a permanent crease as the line of juncture between the front portion and top portion and reinforcing the crown for maintaining the front portion and vertical orientation for displaying indicia thereon and maintaining the top portion in generally horizontal orientation in spaced relation to the head of the wearer thereby providing increased ventilation space within the interior of the crown whereby said space is ventilated through the aperture means in the top portion.

2. A cap construction of the type normally worn by baseball players and the like comprising a crown of flexible fabric material and including an apex and a substantially horizontal lower edge, a forwardly projecting brim fixedly attached to a portion of the lower edge of said crown, a portion of said crown attached to the brim being defined by a pair of generally triangular shaped segments having the edges thereof stitched together with the lines of stitching radiating from the apex of the crown to the lower edge thereof, said segments being continuous from the apex to the brim and having a length greater than an arcuate distance from the apex to the lower edge of the crown where it attaches to the brim when using a radius of curvature with the center at the center of the lower edge of the crown thereby providing extra volume in front of the cap for air circulation, said segments forming the portion of the crown to which the brim is attached including a generally horizontally disposed top portion and a generally vertically disposed front portion, inclined outwardly extending ribs stitched along the junction between the top and front portions of the segments of the crown attached to the brim for reinforcing the top portion and front portion of the segments and maintaining the horizontal and vertical orientation of the top and front portions respectively, said top portion having ventilating means disposed adjacent the exterior rib for ventilation of the excess volume of the interior of the crown for enabling air circulation around the portion of the head of the wearer normally disposed between the brim of the cap and the apex of the crown, the inclination of the rib seam providing for transverse curvature of the top portion and also providing inclined top edges of the front portion of the crown for retaining the segments of the crown attached to the brim in selfsustaining condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 814,089 Shaw Mar. 6, 1906 1,521,998 Crum Jan. 6, 1925 1,984,521 Deegan Dec. 18, 1934 2,288,212 Segelin et al June 30', 1942 2,360,018 Rouse Oct. 10, 1944 2,446,053 Matarazzo July 27, 1948 2,704,847 MacPherson Mar. 29, 1955 2,896,218 Lipschutz July 28, 1959 

1. A CAP CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A CROWN PORTION HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL LOWER EDGE, A FORWARDLY PROJECTING BRIM ATTACHED TO A PORTION OF SAID EDGE, THE PORTION OF THE CROWN ADJACENT THE BRIM HAVING A GENERALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED FRONT PORTION AND A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TOP PORTION OF CONTINUOUS CONSTRUCTION FROM THE APEX OF THE CROWN TO THE EDGE THEREOF, VENTILATING APERTURE MEANS IN SAID CROWN AND INCLUDING APERTURE MEANS IN SAID TOP PORTION, A ROW OF STITCHING EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE BRIM PORTION AT THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN THE TOP PORTION AND FRONT PORTION, SAID LINE OF STITCHING FORMING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDED FOLDED 